U.S. patent number 9,802,637 [Application Number 15/094,854] was granted by the patent office on 2017-10-31 for steering device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Ryosuke Takahashi, Katsutoshi Tsuji.
United States Patent |
9,802,637 |
Takahashi , et al. |
October 31, 2017 |
Steering device
Abstract
Provided is a steering device including an inner pipe, an outer
column including a holding main body section and a clamp section, a
fixed bracket including fixed side sections, a stopper bracket
including a movable guide section firmly attached to the inner
pipe, and attachment sections formed at front-back-direction both
ends of the movable guide section, and a hanger bracket in which
sections to be attached to both the attachment sections are formed
on front-back-direction both sides, the hanger bracket including
side plate sections which sandwich width-direction both side
surfaces of the clamp section and in which long holes for
telescopic adjustment are formed. The attachment sections of the
stopper bracket and the sections to be attached of the hanger
bracket are firmly attached and joined by joining members.
Inventors: |
Takahashi; Ryosuke (Kiryu,
JP), Tsuji; Katsutoshi (Kiryu, JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. |
Kiryu-shi |
N/A |
JP |
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Assignee: |
YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
(Kiryu-Shi, Gunma, JP)
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Family
ID: |
57148513 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/094,854 |
Filed: |
April 8, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20160311459 A1 |
Oct 27, 2016 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Apr 27, 2015 [JP] |
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2015-090885 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D
1/189 (20130101); B62D 1/185 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62D
1/185 (20060101); B62D 1/189 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;74/493 ;280/775 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2008-100597 |
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May 2008 |
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JP |
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2009-029224 |
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Feb 2009 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Frisby; Keith J
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McGinn IP Law Group, PLLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A steering device comprising: an inner pipe; an outer column
including a holding main body section in which the inner pipe is
able to move in a front-back direction and to be fixed, and a clamp
section that expands and reduces the holding main body section in a
diameter direction; a fixed bracket including fixed side sections
that sandwich width-direction both sides of the outer column; a
stopper bracket including a movable guide section firmly attached
to the inner pipe, and attachment sections formed at
front-back-direction both ends of the movable guide section; and a
hanger bracket in which sections to be attached to both the
attachment sections are formed on front-back-direction both sides,
the hanger bracket including side plate sections which sandwich
width-direction both side surfaces of the clamp section and in
which long holes for telescopic adjustment are formed, wherein the
attachment sections of the stopper bracket and the sections to be
attached of the hanger bracket are firmly attached and joined by
joining members.
2. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein a stopper
section that regulates a movement amount in the front-back
direction during telescopic adjustment is formed in at least one
side of the hanger bracket.
3. The steering device according to claim 2, wherein friction
plates for telescoping are fixed to outer side surfaces of the side
plate sections of the hanger bracket, and friction plates for
tilting are disposed between the outer side surfaces and the
friction plates for telescoping.
4. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein friction
plates for telescoping are fixed to outer side surfaces of the side
plate sections of the hanger bracket, and friction plates for
tilting are disposed between the outer side surfaces and the
friction plates for telescoping.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steering device including a
telescopic adjustment mechanism, the steering device having
satisfactory telescopic operability by reducing a harmful effect of
shape deformation in weldbonding and improving assembly
accuracy.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, in a steering device including a tilting/telescopic
mechanism, a part where components are bonded by welding is present
in the structure thereof. For example, in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open No. 2009-029224, a distance bracket, in which
a long hole for telescoping is formed, and an upper jacket are
welded. Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2008-100597, a bonding support bracket mounted with a second
friction plate, in which a telescopic long hole is formed, is
welded to an inner column.
Specifically, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos.
2009-029224 and 2008-100597 are generally explained with
parentheses added to the reference numerals and signs used in the
respective patent literatures. In Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open No. 2009-029224, a substantially U-shaped distance
bracket (4), in which a long hole for telescoping (4d) is formed,
is integrally bonded to the lower surface of the lower end portion
of an upper jacket (1b) by weldbonding. A pair of side brackets
(3c, 3c) is provided to sandwich the distance bracket (4).
In the outward direction of the side bracket (3c), three tilt
friction plates (5) and three telescopic friction plates (6) are
stacked and disposed to be alternately superimposed in the up-down
direction and the vehicle body front-back direction, which are
crossing directions. The lower part of the tilt friction plate (6)
is inserted over a support pin (3e) formed in the side bracket
(3c). On the other hand, the vehicle body front part of the
telescopic friction plate (6) is inserted over a support pin (4e)
formed in the distance bracket (4).
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-100597, a bonding
support bracket (48) is welded and fixed to the intermediate part
lower surface of an inner column (6a). A pair of bent plate
sections (49, 49) bent at a right angle toward the front is formed
at the lower half part left and right both end portions of the
bonding support bracket (48). A support plate section (50) bent
toward the front is formed at the lower end edge of the bonding
support bracket (48).
When the lower end portions of second friction plates (40a, 40b)
are supported on the intermediate part lower surface of the inner
column (6a), in a state in which coupling sections (46a, 46b) that
couple the rear end edges of the second friction plates (40a, 40b)
are laid one on top of the other, the lower end edges of the
coupling sections (46a, 46b) are placed on the upper surface of the
support plate section (50). In this state, a holding bracket (51)
is pushed into the rear end portion inner sides of the second
friction plates (40a, 40b). The holding bracket (51) is fixed to
the bonding support bracket (48) by holding screws (52, 52)
inserted through both the bent plate sections (49, 49).
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-029224, the
distance bracket (4) is firmly attached to the upper jacket (1b) by
welding. Therefore, it is likely that distortion or deformation
occurs in the distance bracket (4) because of thermal effect during
welding work. When distortion occurs, parallelism of the long hole
for telescoping (4d) is not maintained. Feeling during telescopic
adjustment is deteriorated. Further, assemblability of components
is deteriorated.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-100597, the
bonding support bracket (48) is welded and fixed to the
intermediate part lower surface of the inner column (6a).
Therefore, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2009-029224, it is likely that distortion or deformation occurs
because of thermal effect during welding work. When distortion
occurs, parallelism of the bent plate section (49) is not
maintained. Assembly accuracy of the second friction plates (40a,
40b) bonded to the bent plate section (49) is deteriorated.
In the second friction plates (40a, 40b), second long holes (28,
28), which are long holes for telescoping, are formed. Therefore,
it is likely that feeling during telescopic adjustment is
deteriorated. The bonding support bracket (48) is a bracket for
fixing the second friction plates (40a, 40b) and is a dedicated
component not particularly including other functions. Therefore,
the number of components increases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
steering device that has satisfactory telescopic operability by
reducing a harmful effect of shape deformation in weldbonding and
improving assembly accuracy.
Therefore, the inventor earnestly repeated studies in order to
solve the problems. As a result, according to a first aspect of the
invention, there is provided a steering device including: an inner
pipe; an outer column including a holding main body section in
which the inner pipe is able to move in a front-back direction and
to be fixed, and a clamp section that expands and reduces the
holding main body section in a diameter direction; a fixed bracket
including fixed side sections that sandwich width-direction both
sides of the outer column; a stopper bracket including a movable
guide section firmly attached to the inner pipe, and attachment
sections formed at front-back-direction both ends of the movable
guide section; and a hanger bracket in which sections to be
attached to both the attachment sections are formed on
front-back-direction both sides, the hanger bracket including side
plate sections which sandwich width-direction both side surfaces of
the clamp section and in which long holes for telescopic adjustment
are formed. The attachment sections of the stopper bracket and the
sections to be attached of the hanger bracket are firmly attached
and joined by joining members.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the
steering device in the first aspect, a stopper section that
regulates a movement amount in the front-back direction during
telescopic adjustment is formed in at least one side of the hanger
bracket.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the
steering device in the first or second aspect, friction plates for
telescoping are fixed to outer side surfaces of the side plate
sections of the hanger bracket, and friction plates for tilting are
disposed between the outer side surfaces and the friction plates
for telescoping.
In the present invention, the stopper bracket and the hanger
bracket are connected via the joining members. The side plate
sections are formed in the hanger bracket. Both the side plate
sections come into contact with the width-direction both surfaces
of the clamp section and the inner surfaces of both the fixed side
sections of the fixed bracket.
In the present invention, the hanger bracket is mounted on the
stopper bracket, which is firmly attached to the inner pipe by
welding, by the joining members such as pins or screws rather than
welding. Since the hanger bracket is not firmly attached by
welding, distortion and deformation due to thermal effect do not
occur. It is possible to maintain parallelism of both the side
plate sections in which the long holes for telescopic adjustment
are formed. Consequently, it is possible to perform satisfactory
telescopic operation. Assemblability is improved. Further, it is
possible to fix a lever load during lever fastening.
By mounting the hanger bracket with the joining members such as
pins or screws, during assembly of the hanger bracket, it is
possible to mount the hanger bracket in a position where dimension
fluctuation of peripheral components is absorbed. Consequently,
even when distortion or deformation due to thermal effect occurs in
the stopper bracket and when there is a dimension error of the
peripheral components, it is possible to mount the hanger bracket
in an appropriate position. It is possible to maintain satisfactory
tilting/telescopic operability. Further, it is possible to prevent
the rotation of the inner pipe with the hanger bracket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a side view of a steering device in a first embodiment
of the present invention, FIG. 1B is a partially enlarged sectional
view of an (.alpha.) part of FIG. 1A, FIG. 1C is an enlarged view
of a (.beta.) part of FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1D is an Y1-Y1 arrow
enlarged view of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 2A is a plan perspective view of a stopper bracket, and FIG.
2B is a plan perspective view of a hanger bracket;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are partial sectional main part side views showing
a process for attaching and connecting the hanger bracket to the
stopper bracket;
FIG. 4A is a partially omitted Y2-Y2 arrow enlarged sectional view
of FIG. 1C, and FIG. 4B is a view showing a state in which the
hanger bracket is separated from the stopper bracket firmly
attached to an outer column in FIG. 4A;
FIG. 5A is a partially omitted rear side sectional view of a state
in which friction plates for tilting are mounted on both side plate
sections of the hanger bracket, FIG. 5B is a perspective view of
the friction plate for tilting, and FIG. 5C is a perspective view
of a friction plate for telescoping; and
FIG. 6 is a partial sectional cutout main part side view of a
steering device in a second embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the present invention are explained below with
reference to the drawings. As terms indicating directions in the
explanation, there are a front side and a rear side. The front side
and the rear side are based on the front-back direction of an
automobile in a state in which a steering device in the present
invention is mounted on the automobile. Specifically, in
constituent members of the steering device, a front wheel side of
the automobile is set as the front side and a steering wheel side
is set as the rear side. The axial direction of shafts configuring
the steering device is the same as the front-back direction. The
front side and the rear side are described in main drawings.
The steering device in the present invention includes a
tilting/telescopic mechanism. The main configuration of the
steering device includes, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D, an inner pipe
1, a stopper bracket 2, a hanger bracket 3, screw sections 4, an
outer column 5, a fixed bracket 6, and a fastener 7.
In the inner pipe 1, an upper shaft A configuring the steering
device is mounted on the inside of the inner pipe 1 to be rotatable
in the circumferential direction. A steering wheel is mounted on
the distal end of the upper shaft A projecting from the
axial-direction (front-back-direction) rear end side of the inner
pipe 1 (see FIG. 1A). The stopper bracket 2 is firmly attached by
welding in a predetermined position in the axial direction of the
inner pipe 1 and on the lower end face in the diameter direction of
the inner pipe 1 (see FIGS. 1B to 1D).
The predetermined position of the inner pipe 1 refers to the lower
end face within a range supported by the outer column 5 and the
fixed bracket 6 explained below in a state in which the inner pipe
1 is properly mounted on a vehicle body by the outer column 5 and
the fixed bracket 6 (see FIGS. 1B to 1D).
The stopper bracket 2 is configured from a movable guide section 21
and an attachment section 22 on the front side and an attachment
section 23 on the rear side (see FIGS. 1C, 2A, 3A and 3B, etc.).
The stopper bracket 2 plays a role of a member for mounting the
hanger bracket 3 on the inner pipe 1 and a role of regulating a
movement amount of the inner pipe 1 during telescopic
adjustment.
The movable guide section 21 is a portion firmly attached to the
lower end face of the inner pipe 1 by welding. The movable guide
section 21 is configured from a guide main plate 21a formed in a
substantially rectangular shape having a longitudinal direction in
the front-back direction and both suspended side plates 21b formed
below the width-direction both ends of the guide main plate
21a.
Both the suspended side plates 21b play a role of reinforcing the
stopper bracket 2 and play a role of a guide during relative
movement of a cushioning member 75 mounted on a bolt shaft 71 of
the fastener 7. A spring 76 is mounted on the fixed bracket 6. The
spring 76 elastically urges the cushioning member 75 to the movable
guide section 21 of the stopper bracket 2 (see FIG. 1C).
The attachment section 22 on the front side and the attachment
section 23 on the rear side are formed at both the ends in the
front-back direction of the movable guide section 21. The
attachment section 22 on the front side is located on the front
side of the movable guide section 21. The attachment section 23 on
the rear side is located on the rear side of the movable guide
section 21. The movable guide section 21 and the attachment
sections 22 and 23 on the front side and the rear side configuring
the stopper bracket 2 are integrally molded from a metal material
by a method such as pressing.
The attachment section 22 on the front side and the attachment
section 23 on the rear side have different shapes. In the
attachment section 22 on the front side, a suspended front plate
22b is formed downward from the front end of the movable guide
section 21 and an attachment front plate 22a inclining from the
lower end of the suspended front plate 22b toward the front side of
the movable guide section 21 is formed (see FIGS. 1C, 2A, 3A and
3B, etc.).
In the attachment section 23 on the rear side, a suspended rear
plate 23b is formed downward from the rear end of the movable guide
section 21, a horizontal attachment rear plate 23a is formed
further toward the rear side than the rear end of the movable guide
section 21 from the lower end of the suspended rear plate 23b, and
a vertical plate 23c is formed upward from the rear end of the
attachment rear plate 23a. Through-holes for attachment 22e and 23e
are respectively formed in the attachment front plate 22a and the
attachment rear plate 23a.
The screw section 4 is provided in the through-hole for attachment
23e of the attachment rear plate 23a (see FIGS. 1C, 2A, 3A and 3B,
etc.). At least one of the suspended front plate 22b and the
suspended rear plate 23b play a role of a stopper for regulating
movement of the inner pipe 1 during the telescopic adjustment.
The hanger bracket 3 is attached to the stopper bracket 2 via pins,
screws, or the like functioning as joining members 42 (see FIGS.
1C, 2A, 3A and 3B, etc.). In the hanger bracket 3, side plate
sections 31 are formed on the width-direction both sides. Both the
side plate sections 31 are formed in a vertical surface shape,
formed in a substantially rectangular shape in the longitudinal
direction along the front-back direction, and opposed to each other
in a parallel state. In both the side plate sections 31, long holes
for telescopic adjustment 34 formed as elliptical through-holes
along the longitudinal direction thereof are formed.
In the hanger bracket 3, sections to be attached 32 and 33 on the
front side and the rear side that couple both the side plate
sections 31 at lower ends and in front-back-direction both end
parts are formed. The section to be attached 32 on the front side
is located on the front side of the hanger bracket 3. The section
to be attached 33 on the rear side is located on the rear side of
the hanger bracket 3. Both the sections to be attached 32 and 33 on
the front side and the rear side play a role of coupling both the
side plate sections 31 and a role of attaching and connecting the
hanger bracket 3 to the stopper bracket 2. The hanger bracket 3 is
integrally molded from a metal plate such as an iron plate by press
molding. The section to be attached 32 on the front side and the
section to be attached 33 on the rear side have different shapes
and are formed to match the shapes of the attachment section 22 on
the front side and the attachment section 23 on the rear side of
the stopper bracket 2.
In the section to be attached 32 on the front side, a projecting
plate 32c inclining downward toward the rear side (the inner center
side of the hanger bracket 3) from a substantially rectangular
coupling front plate 32b, which couples both the side plate
sections 31, is formed. A front plate to be attached 32a inclining
upward from the lower end of the projecting plate 32c is formed. An
upward front end plate 32d is formed from the upper end of the
front plate to be attached 32a (see FIGS. 1C, 2A, 3A and 3B,
etc.).
In the section to be attached 33 on the rear side, a rear plate to
be attached 33a projecting horizontally toward the front side (the
inner center side of the hanger bracket 3) from a substantially
rectangular coupling rear plate 33b, which couples both the side
plate sections 31, is formed. An upward rear end plate 33d is
formed from the inner end of the rear plate to be attached 33a.
In the hanger bracket 3, a substantially rectangular gap section 36
is provided between the section to be attached 32 on the front side
and the section to be attached 33 on the rear side. Through-holes
for attachment 32e and 33e are formed in the front plate to be
attached 32a and the rear plate to be attached 33a. The screw
section 4 is provided in the through-hole for attachment 32e of the
front plate to be attached 32a.
At the axial-direction both ends of the hanger bracket 3, at least
one of the front end plate 32d of the section to be attached 32 and
the rear end plate 33d of the section to be attached 33 is used as
a stopper section 38 that plays a role of a stopper for regulating
movement of the inner pipe 1 during the telescopic adjustment (see
FIGS. 1B, 1C, 3B, 6, etc.). During the telescopic adjustment, the
bolt shaft 71 or the cushioning member 75 of the fastener 7 comes
into contact with the front end plate 32d and the rear end plate
33d used as the stopper section 38. Consequently, movement of the
inner pipe 1 with respect to the fixed bracket 6 in the telescopic
adjustment is regulated.
The screw sections 4 are formed in the through-hole for attachment
23e of the stopper bracket 2 and the through-hole for attachment
32e of the hanger bracket 3 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B, 3A and 3B, etc.).
When joining members such pins or screws are inserted through the
screw sections 4, the screw sections 4 play a role of connecting
the attachment sections 22 and 23 on the front side and the rear
side of the stopper bracket 2 and the sections to be attached 32
and 33 of the hanger bracket 3 each other.
When the hanger bracket 3 is attached to the stopper bracket 2, the
hanger bracket 3 and the stopper bracket 2 are assembled such that
the front plate to be attached 32a including the screw section 4 is
located above the attachment front plate 22a and the attachment
rear plate 23a including the screw section 4 is located above the
rear plate to be attached 33a. The joining members 42 such as pins
or screws are fastened from below the attachment front plate 22a
and the rear plate to be attached 33a.
The hanger bracket 3 is connected to, via the screw sections 4, the
stopper bracket 2 firmly attached to the inner pipe 1 by welding,
whereby a movable bracket including the long holes for telescopic
adjustment 34 is included in the inner pipe 1. The attachment
section 22 on the front side and the section to be attached 32 on
the front side and the attachment section 23 on the rear side and
the section to be attached 33 on the rear side of the stopper
bracket 2 and the hanger bracket 3 play a role of regulating a
movement amount in the front-back direction of the inner pipe 1
when the bolt shaft 71 of the fastener 7 or the cushioning member
mounted on the bolt shaft 71 comes into contact with the attachment
section 22 on the front side and the section to be attached 32 on
the front side and the attachment section 23 on the rear side and
the section to be attached 33 on the rear side during the
telescopic adjustment.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, the attachment
front plate 22a and the attachment rear plate 23a of the stopper
bracket 2 are respectively formed in horizontal surface shape.
Similarly, the front plate to be attached 32a and the rear plate to
be attached 33a of the hanger bracket 3 are respectively formed in
horizontal surface shapes (see FIG. 6).
The outer column 5 is made of aluminum die cast and is configured
from a holding main body section 51 and clamp sections 52 that are
symmetrical and opposed to each other (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). The
holding main body section 51 is formed in a substantially
cylindrical shape hollowed on the inside. Specifically, the inside
of the holding main body section 51 includes a holding inner
circumferential section 51a formed in a hollow shape. A slit
section 51b is formed on the diameter direction lower side of the
holding main body section 51.
The slit section 51b is a separated portion discontinuous in the
width direction along the front side to the rear side in the axial
direction of the holding main body section 51. Edge portions
opposed to each other on the width-direction both end sides of the
slit section 51b approach each other, whereby the diameter of the
holding inner circumferential section 51a decreases. The inner pipe
1 housed and mounted in the holding main body section 51 can be
fastened and locked (fixed).
The clamp sections 52 are integrally formed from a lower part of
the holding main body section 51 and the vicinities of the
width-direction both ends of the slit section 51b. Both the clamp
sections 52 have a symmetrical shape. Fastening holes 52a, through
which the bolt shaft 71 of the fastener 7 is inserted, are
respectively formed in the clamp sections 52. Both the clamp
sections 52 are formed integrally with the holding main body
section 51 in positions at the width-direction both side ends of
the slit section 51b.
The fixed bracket 6 is configured from fixed side sections 61
formed on the width-direction both sides and an attachment top
section 62 (see FIG. 1D). In both the fixed side sections 61, long
holes for tilting 61a elongated in substantially the up-down
direction or the longitudinal direction are formed. The fastener 7
is configured from the bolt shaft 71, a lock lever section 72, a
fastening cam 73, and a nut 74. The fastener 7 is mounted by the
nut 74 together with the lock lever section 72 and the fastening
cam 73.
An assembly process of the steering device in the present invention
is explained. The inner pipe 1, to which the stopper bracket 2 is
welded and firmly attached, is mounted on the holding inner
circumferential section 51a of the outer column 5 in a held state.
The stopper bracket 2 is disposed in the slit section 51b of the
outer column 5 (see FIG. 4B).
Thereafter, the outer column 5 holding the inner pipe 1 is disposed
between both the fixed side sections 61 of the fixed bracket 6.
Both the side plate sections 31 of the hanger bracket 3 are
disposed between the width-direction outer surface side of both the
clamp sections 52 of the outer column 5 and the inner surface side
of the fixed side sections 61 of the fixed bracket 6.
Consequently, rotation of the inner pipe 1 can be prevented.
Thereafter, the attachment sections 22 and 23 on the front side and
the rear side of the stopper bracket 2 and the sections to be
attached 32 and 33 of the hanger bracket 3 are provisionally joined
to the screw sections 4 via the joining members 42 such as pins or
screws. Thereafter, the bolt shaft 71 of the fastener 7 is inserted
through the long holes for tilting 61a of both the fixed side
sections 61, the long holes for telescopic adjustment 34 of the
hanger bracket 3, and the fastening holes 52a of the clamp sections
52. The lock lever section 72, the fastening cam 73, and the nut 74
are mounted.
Thereafter, the lock lever section 72 is turned to be set in a lock
state to fasten the joining members 42 inserted through the screw
sections 4 and mount the hanger bracket 3 in an appropriate
position. The hanger bracket 3 is joined by the joining members 42
such as pins or screws in this way. Consequently, even when
distortion or deformation due to thermal effect occurs in the
stopper bracket 2 or when dimension fluctuation of peripheral
components occurs, it is possible to mount the hanger bracket 3 in
an appropriate position. It is possible to maintain satisfactory
tilting/telescopic operability.
In the present invention, according to necessity, friction plates
for telescoping 82 are mounted on the outer surface sides of both
the side plate sections 31 of the hanger bracket 3. Further,
friction plates for tilting 81 are mounted between the outer
surface sides of both the side plate sections 31 and the friction
plates for telescoping 82. Shaft holes 81a, through which the bolt
shaft 71 is inserted, are formed in the friction plates for tilting
81.
The friction plates for telescoping 82 align the positions of long
holes for telescopic adjustment 82a formed in the friction plates
for telescoping 82 and the long holes for telescopic adjustment 34
formed in both the side plate sections 31 of the hanger bracket 3
and fix front-back-direction both ends to both the side plate
sections 31 with pins, screws, or the like.
The hanger bracket 3 is joined to the stopper bracket 2 by the
joining members 42 such as pins or screws. Therefore, distortion
and deformation due to thermal effect do not occur. Parallelism of
both the side plate sections 31 is maintained. Therefore, it is
possible to mount the friction plates for telescoping 82 and the
friction plates for tilting 81 in appropriate positions. It is
possible to maintain satisfactory tilting/telescopic
operability.
The steering device in the present invention is configured as
explained above. Therefore, it is possible to maintain parallelism
of both the side plate sections 31 of the hanger bracket 3.
Consequently, it is possible to satisfactorily perform
tilting/telescopic operation. Assemblability is improved. In the
hanger bracket 3, at least one of the front end plate 32d and the
rear end plate 33d has a function of a stopper that regulates
movement of the inner pipe 1 during the telescopic adjustment and
has a function of preventing rotation of the inner pipe 1. This
leads to a reduction in the number of components.
In a second aspect, a stopper section that regulates a movement
amount in the front-back direction during the telescopic adjustment
is formed in at least one side of the hanger bracket. Therefore,
the hanger bracket also has a role of a stopper for regulating a
movement amount of telescoping. This leads to a reduction in the
number of components.
In a third aspect, friction plates for telescoping are fixed to
outer side surfaces of the side plate sections, parallelism of
which is maintained. Friction plates for tilting are disposed
between the outer side surfaces of the side plate sections and the
friction plates for telescoping. Therefore, it is possible to
assemble the friction plates in appropriate positions. It is
possible to smoothly perform tilting/telescopic operation.
* * * * *